There are lots of folks on the list who can talk about Marinonis, but as you say, they don't get much high end respect. Guiseppe Marinoni is an Italian immigrant working out of Montreal Canada. He built frames in an Italian style. Mine was my only custom bike. I got it in 1980 and originally built it with Campy SR (reduced) group. I bought it through Multigear in Ann Arbor, alas another good shop that's long gone. After 23 years and thousands of miles, I got it repainted 15 months ago, and am still riding it. I've done more long rides (65 miles+) on her than on all my other bikes combined. The BB is a bit high, so handling is not super stable no hands, but just fine with a finger on the bar. I specified an all around race/sport riding geometry, so a little criterium influence crept in. But I've done loaded touring on her as well as my fastest metric century, so I got what I specified.
Marinoni made so many frames and was so reasonably priced that there was no mystique about them. If you wanted one, you could get it. His painting wasn't the best either. But those who rode them always seem to love them. I know Dale sold a bunch of these back in the day, and was able to beg/steal one of the last sets of old graphics from Marinoni when I had mine re-painted. Dale had some pics of my refinished "Macaroni" but they never made it to the CR Marinoni page (not so subtle hint). I'd say his lug work was fine, but not super polished. Better than factory bikes, but a step below medium volume custom builders and way behind "artsy" bike builders. But mine is solid and dependable, and has carried me over many bumpy roads, big hills and sweaty days, and has handled freewheel clusters from corn cobs to 14 - 34 without a bobble. And anyway, where else can you get an Italian/French/Canadian classic?
I didn't find this in the archives, but weren't some major world medals or races won on Marinonis?
Tom Adams, Marinoni owner, Shrewsbury NJ
>From: "Jose Fonseca" <locortjody@earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: locortjody@earthlink.net
>To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Marinoni
>Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 20:28:37 -0700
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>Hi all. Maybe this is a thread starter. Why is it I don't see much buzz about Marinoni? Last year I purchased a Marinoni from the original owner, and he told me he ordered the bike in '75 and got it in '76. I think the workmanship is on par or better than most "high end" bikes from the period, and the bike demonstrates typical "Crit" style ride and handling, without being too harsh. Overall, a really nice bike that you don't see everywhere. (at least not here on the west coast) Can anyone tell me more about this maker? I know they're still around, but I don't think they're hand building anymore. Just wondering if anyone knows much about this maker during this period.
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>Just wondering in Whiskey Hill CA
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>Jody Fonseca
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>--- locortjody@earthlink.net
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>--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.
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